May 9 cases: Shah Mehmood Qureshi acquitted, others leaders sentenced 10 year jail

LAHORE:  The Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court has acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi in two cases of May 9 and sentenced Dr. Yasmin Rashid and Ijaz Chaudhry to 10 years in prison each.

Judge Manzar Ali Gul of the Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court heard two cases related to May 9 in Kot Lakhpat Jail. Where the verdict was pronounced in the Shadman Town police station arson case and the Rahat Bakery arson case.

In the verdict, the court acquitted former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in both cases.

The court sentenced PTI leaders Mian Mahmood-ur-Rasheed, Omar Sarfaraz Cheema, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry and Imran Khan’s guard Hafiz Arshad to 10 years in prison each.

In addition, the court sentenced PTI Punjab Chief Organizer Aaliya Hamza and Sanam Javed to 5 years in prison each in the Shadman police station arson case.

The Anti-Terrorism Court has convicted 13 accused and acquitted 12 accused in the Shadman Police Station arson case. Similarly, the court convicted 7 accused and acquitted 10 accused in the Rahat Bakery arson case.

Those acquitted include Sohail Khan, Owais, Rafiuddin, Farid Khan, Salman Ahmed, Abdul Qadir, Faizan, Tayyab, Sultan, Shahid Baig, Majid Ali and Bakht Rawan.

It may be recalled that the Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court had sentenced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry and Sarfaraz Cheema to 10 years in prison each in the Sherpao Pul arson and siege case, while acquitting 6 accused including Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Hamza Azeem.